We are witnessing a burgeoning scandal concerning the Veterans Administration and its failure to provide timely and adequate care to the nation’s veterans.

As with most scandals, the blame game appears to be more important than the real problem: What happened? Why did it happen? What can be done about it?

It is all too easy to blame the president, the Veterans Administration, General Shinseki, and others associated with the administration. All are deserving of a fair share of blame, but what about the others. The others? Who might they be? Why they are the first to raise a hue and cry and do nothing about whatever it is they are raising a hue and cry about — except call for an investigative committee.

Better than investigative committees, I suggest that every citizen contact the other responsible people involved. There are 435 congressmen and 100 senators who over past years have had little to do with Washington other than to show up and collect paychecks. Ask your representatives: When and where did they last visit a VA hospital?

When and where did they last visit an old soldiers home? When, where and with whom did they visit a veteran’s family? When did they last visit Arlington Cemetery, or any veteran’s cemetery? What legislation have they originated (not co-sponsored) to enhance the welfare of veterans? What info have they demanded of the chairmen of the veterans committees over the past ten years?

Give one point for each affirmative answer. Anything less than four is questionable. Anything less than two should be a ticket home. These are the people really responsible for not staving off the scandal. If they were doing their jobs, there wouldn’t be a scandal.

Email your representative. The answers should prove interesting. But they won’t unless you decide that for once you’re in charge and that they are the servants. Otherwise, it’s is business as usual. Where do you stand, or do you?